Baler, especially controlled releasable plunger knife



Aug. 31, 1954 c. S. MORR|SON ONTROLLED RELEASABLE PLUNGER BALER. ESPECIALLY C Filed March 22, 1950 IN VEN TOR. a s. MORRISO ATTRNEYS Patented Aug. 31, 1954 ESPECIALLY someon BELEASABLE sese KNIFE Charles. S! Mmrisqn, Moline, 111., assignor to. Deere t unmen Mele .a m py etian .0!

lti mfs Application March 22. 195 0, Serial Nq. 151,209 13 Qlajms. (Cl. 100--4) This invention relates to a .baling press and more particularly to an auxiliary device such the needle as a materialeslicing knife releasably connected zone in .which th to the plunger or such press. pression stroke. T-helconflicting presence of the Although, as will be seen from the description plunger and needle or needles in the same Z0 16 to follow, the principles .of the invention have v ly wi ppl i the herein disclosed plunger with slots or recesses to accomm da form of the invention as designed primarily the needles. Hence, even though the needles for use in balers of th pi k-up "type customarily are in tying position, the lunger may r ime: employed on farms for the picking up and haling 1 0 eate without damaging the needlesof hay, straw, etc. A typical baler of this aha/r.- nn the basis .of a

.. esign such as that out ined above, it has heretofore been necessar e heia ni le A M l z lers o th sen r desi n r i rt d ve been i d equine sa i fac ion in .n wil nest a t is me i d tha e n ein dis xedgnj fe glpngvantages result ;f;n

a. n n: ix quirement that the ween-l e eenn ed eeeqleslq leeed q n hme eri lme tb e t ie e by'm en of fi seisilede per tien and a elt t b t e plun er The e t ha s bale is made f plura it el he e etc s anated it @31 eeeuse 11 ns q eete in h Q7 sette he above, such (movement of impossib the needles would be 1e because ofdntenferencewiththe knife. ease to bring a strand tof itwine or lwire arou-nd According to the present invention, these -dethexbale totthetyi-ngmechanism which isilocated 55 sirable -results are made possible by the provision of a knife that is releasably carried by the plunger so that the knife can be stopped after it has performed its severing or shearing function, whereby the plunger may continue past the feed opening while the knife is retained in its stopped position. Thus, the shearing or cut ting edge of the knife may be made continuous and the knife willlose none of its efliciency. At the sametime, the plunger may be slotted as usual to receive the tying needles. Yet, the

slots may be provided in planes normal or perpendicular to the plane in which the knife operates. In short, the plunger may function with respect to its operation in connection with the needles during the tying operation, just as if it had no knife thereon. Yet, a knife is provided that has all the functional characteristics of knives heretofore used for slicing the material to provide separate charges.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a baler construction in which the knife or equivalent auxiliary device is carried by the plunger for movement with the plunger during part of the movement of the plunger, whereby the plunger may have a range of movement in which it moves without the knife.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a plunger and auxiliary device or knife of the character referred to which will result in over-all improvement of the operating efficiency of a baler without materially altering the basic design thereof. A further object is to utilize the characteristics of the present invention for the purpose of simplifying and lowering the cost of balers in general.

It is a further important object of the present invention to provide control meansfor actuating the knife-release means in' response to conditions incident to the completion of the formation of a bale, so that the knife remains connected to the plunger throughout that portion of the operating cycle of the plunger preliminary to completion of the bale. In particular, actuation of the releasable means is made dependent upon initiation of operation of the tying mechanism, for it is only at this time that the typing mechanism needles move across the bale chamber in the path of reciprocation of the plunger and plunger-carried knife. In other words, the knife is carried for movement with the plunger at such times during which there will be no conflict between the knife .7

and the tying mechanism needles.

The foregoing and other'important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art as a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings in which Figure l is a plan view showing the general construction of a typical baler equipped with mechanism incorporating the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing the relationship between the plunger and the material-feed opening, the plunger being shown at the end of its retracting stroke;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the plunger at the end of its compression stroke;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary in a plane at right angles to the plane of the section of Figure 2 and showing schematically the control means for the releasable elements;.

sectional view taken Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the parts of the control means in diiferent positions;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the bale chamber, as viewed along the line 6-6 of Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the relationship between the components of the tying mechanism during the tying operation.

The baler structure chosen for the purposes of illustration is shown only generally and familiarity with the basic components thereof will be assumed. The baler may be of any suitable design, such as that shown in U. S. Patent 2,484,890, dated October 18, 1949, to I-fll and may include main frame structure It) carried on wheels I: and M for advance over a field in the direction of the arrow A (Figure 1). The baler may be equipped with a draft frame 16 by means of which connection may be made to a tractor or other vehicular baler is moved over a field of windrowed hay or straw, such windrows are picked up by pick-up means l8 and delivered rearwardly to a bale case designated generally by the numeral 20.

The bale case includes means in the form of a plurality of walls 22, 24, 2B and 28 forming an elongated balechamber generally rectangular in section. The walls 22 and 24 are respectively top and bottom walls and the walls 26 and 28 are respectively front and rear walls. The front wall 26 is'provided with means, here in the form of a rectangular feed opening 30, through which material may be fed from the pick-up l8 into the bale chamber and into the path plunger 32 that is driven or reciprocated lengthwise of the bale chamber in alternate compression and retraction strokes, or otherwise in successive phases of predetermined cycles, by means of a pitman 34 and a crankshaft 36, all of which may be generally conventional.

The plunger has a leading face 38 disposed transversely as respects the length of the bale chamber and which has a definite cycle of movement relative to vertical edges 40 and 42 that define the sides of the feed opening 30. These openings are spaced apart lengthwise as respects the extent of the bale chamber. When the plunger 32 is at the end of its retraction stroke, as shown in Figure 2, the leading face 38 is to the right of the edge 42, but when the plunger is at the end of its compression stroke (Figure 3) the leading face 38 moves considerably past the edge 40, which edge may be termed the edge more remote from the face 38 of the plunger when the plunger is at the end of its retracting stroke. In other words, the plunger operates to move across and beyond the opening 30 to receive material fed through the opening by the pick-up l8 and to compact or compress the material toward the left for effecting the formation of a bale, such a bale being designated at B in Figures 3, 5 and 7. The structural and functional characteristics just related briefly are typical of the standard or conventional balers.

Continuing termed conventional or structure disclosed herein poses, reference will now be had to the means for tying a bale after it has attained a predetermined size characteristic on the basis of charges of material compacted by the plunger on its. compression strokes. ture illustrated herein, the front wall 26 is provided with .what is known in the art as a measurfor the moment with what may be pects of the of a reciprocating In the baler strucaeszess say, as the plunger moves on its compression 12. *When the measuring wheel 44 is moved sufstrokes in the direction of the arrowidentined ficiently to bring the pin 50 into engagement by the legend compressionin Figure 4, mawith the free end of the lever 80, the lever is terial carried along ahead of the leading face rocked in a counterclockwise direction asviewed 38 of the plunger engages the serrated periphery in Figures 4 and 5, thus efiecting clockwise rockmental angular movement of the measuring following which engagement of the clutch parts wheel in the direction of thearrow 0 (Figures 4 l2 and 14 will occur. The shaft 68 is then ands). l

The measuring wheel is shown substantially 15 the needles 52 across the bale case and then in its initia position in Figure 4. The wheel is to return the needles to the position of Figure l.

charges of material; The wheel is designed on 0 through the front wall slots 54 and 56 to be representative of several forms that such tying 1948 to West et a1. Briefly, the tying mechanism ary 4, 1949, to Hill. Fundamentally, the tying ponents are suitably dr ven by means (not shown) mechanism includes a pair 01 needles 52 (only connected to a vertical driven shaft I 00 driven one of which is shown). Upper and lower slots by suitable chain and sprocket means I02 from r t i visible tsg m Figure Although which lies along the side of the bale case front the companion rear slot is not shown, its preswall 26, as at W in Figure 5 and the other run ence will be apparent, The rear 51 a reof which lies along the inside of the bale case spectively aligned with the front slots. rear wall 28 and projects outwardly through the E h e dl i cl d mounting arm 50 pivrear wall slot 58, as indicated at W in Figure l.

oted at 62 on a vertical axis on the rear wall 28 40 It will be understood, of course, that there are of the bale case. The needles are swingable two loops of wire W spaced apart vertically acmounted on vertical shartta ahead of the bale h w ar W ntin u w rdly re p chasey T shaft 53 d i it power from tively through the front wall slots 54 and 56 and a driven clutch member 14 that is normally idle. left, drawing he Wire portions W and W ine dri n clut h member is preferably formed Wardly to accommodate for the increased bale as part of a bevel pinion 16 that IS in constant length The P 18 connected to another mesh with a bevel pinion 1a keyed to the lower u t l s u f supply (not shown), the o end of th edl riv shaft 53. wire parts having been preliminarily joined or As the bale is being formed, the clutch parts 12 knotted s at (Figure 5) to form the loop W rotated until the pin 50 thereon moves into a 60 'up the wire parts W and move them across the position in which it is immediately subsequently htd d f the al into the y n capable of actuating mechanism for controlling m ham m s a h n 94, rr in h r alons "the cl t h 72 14, F r th purposes pf brevity the wire part W encountered at the end of needle and reduction in the complexity of disclosure, movement The Wire parts thus ht o ether only a functionally possible mechanism has been 5 re moved into the slotted twister gear 96, which illustrated. Equivalent mechanis in h is actuated by the tier shaft I 00 to form in the found to be disclosed in the U. S. patents identi- Wire Darts W and W a twist or knot which matic illustration will sumce. j

A control lever 80 is pivoted intermediate it ated to sever the wires so that a knot or twist is ends at a: on the from Wall of the bale case 20. m d at each d of the w t r ar 96. One One end of the lever 80 projects into the path of the knots completes tying of the b'ale B and the of movement of the pin 50 on the measuring otherknot serves, like the preliminary knot K, wheel. The other end of the lever is connected to establish a subsequent loop for the formation of by a link 84 to a throw-but arm 86 pivoted intera subsequent bale. The details of the structure in Figure 5. As

by means of which this detailed operation is carried out and an outline of the operation itself are contained in the above identified U. S. Patent 2,456,476.

The needle drive shaft 68 rotates in the direction of the arrow D (Figures 4 and5); consquently, the tier shaft I rotates in the same direction. When each of the shafts B8 and I00 completes a single revolution, the clutch mechanism1l2-l4 is disengaged. For this purpose, the shaft I00 carries for, rotation therewith a controlcam I06 engageable at times with an arm I08 pivoted intermediateits ends at H0 on the front wall 26 of the bale case. The other end of the arm I03is connected by a link H2 to that end of the throw-out arm 86 opposite to the con-. nection between the arm 86 and the link 84. Before engagement of the clutch 12'I4, the parts are asshown in Figure 4. After the clutch is engaged, the throw-out arm 86 operates through the link I I2 to rock the arm I08 to the position shown 7 the shaft I00 completes its one revolution, the control cam I06engages the arm I08 and re-shifts the shiftable control member I2, thus disengaging the member from the driven clutch member I4. The parts are again restored to the position of Figure 4 until another bale is completed.

. It will be apparent from an examination of Figures l, 5 and '7 that the needles 52 move across the path of movement of the plunger 32 on its compression strokes. Obviously, some provision must be made for the conflicting presence of the needles 52 and plunger 32. Such provision is conventionally made in the form of a pair of needle-accommodating slots H4 formed in the leading face 38 of the plunger 32. It will be understood, of course, that the plunger moves continuously during the formation of a bale, whereas the needles move only once at the end of the completion of each bale as determined by the measuring wheel 44 and mechanism actuated thereby. In one type of baler, somewhere between ten and eighteen compression strokes of the plunger will be sufficient to form a bale of predetermined length according to the design of the measuring wheel 44, depending upon the size of the charges fed through the opening 30. the tying operation will be completed between two successive compression strokes of the plunger. In short, the tying cycle is timed with operation of the plunger to the extent that the tying operation is completed during one cycle of operation of the plunger.

According to the present invention, the baler retains all the desirable characteristics of known balers and at the same time eliminates many disadvantages. One of the desirable features in a baler, at least according to one school of thought, is provision for slicing the charges of material as they are fed through the feed opening 30. In prior balers, this result was accomplished by the provision of a knife carried by the plunger for cooperation with a fixed knife along one edge of the feed opening 30. present case, a fixed knife H6 is provided along the edge 40 of the feed opening 30 and a second knife I I8 is associated with the plunger 32. How ever, in the present case, the association be- 32 and knife H8 includes releasable means whereby the knife is carried by the plunger during only certain portions of the operating cycle of the plunger. In brief, the knife H6 is carried by or driven from the plunger 32 during all phases of operation of the plunger It is expected that except final movement of the plunger on its com pression stroke just .prior'to tying of the bale B. The reason why disconnection between the plunger 32 and knife H8 is desired will be apparent from an examination of Figures 2-5, wherein it will be noted that the knife H8 projects slightly ahead of the leading edge 38 of the plunger 32 during normal association between the plunger and knife. Since the leading face 38 of'the plunger moves considerably beyond the edge 40 and knife H6 of the feed opening 30, the knife H8 likewise moves past the line along which 40 and H6 lie. It will be further noted that the knife I I8, at the end of the compression stroke of the plunger .32, is in the zone intermittently occupied by the needles 52. As previously stated, the plunger 32 is slotted at H4 to accommodate the needles. However, the knife H8 to accommodate the needles, since shearing or severing Hence, provision must be made for ing the knife I I8 from the plunger at the proper time so that at such proper time the plunger 32 may continue alone on its compression stroke without carrying therewith the knife I I3. In short, the knife H8 is disconnected so that it does not move into the zone occupied by the needles 52 during the tying operation. This desirable result is accomplishedas set forth below.

The knife H8 is carried by a knife carrier I20 disposed along the front face of the plunger 32 between that face and the inner surface of the bale case front wall 26. The knife carrier is somewhat longer than the plunger 32 and has its righthand end provided with a flanged stop means I22 and with one of a pair of releasable elements, here including a slot or recess I24. The other of the releasable elements comprises a roller I26 carried by a pivoted and spring-loaded, as by a coiled compression spring 29, arm I23 connected to the plunger 32, as by the means illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Since the arm l20 is spring-loaded, the roller I26 normally engages element comprising the slot rier I20. Thus, reciprocation of the plunger 32 results in reciprocation of the knife carrier I20. Therefore, the knife H8 reciprocates in a cycle substantially coextensive with the cycle of reciprocation of the plunger 32 and functions to cooperate with the fixed knife H6 to shear successive charges of materialfed through the feed opening 30 into the bale chamber.

It is a feature of the present invention to control the releasable elements I24--I26 by means operative in response to conditions incident to the completion of the bale which, as aforesaid, includes an approximate predetermined number of strokes of the plunger 32 or, morefundamentally, determination on the basis of a size characteristic of the bale-here length. Further, the mechanism utilized to initiate operation of the tying mechanism is utilized to control the releasable elements referred to.

Part'of the control meansfor. the releasable means I24-I26 comprises normally idle mechanism including a pivoted control member I30 in the form of a bell crank having one arm I32 connected by'linkageI34 to an angularly movable arm I30 having at one end a roller I38 and pivoted at its other end at I40 to the front wall 26 of the bale case. A bracket having a pair of spaced-apart apertured ears I42 slidably carries part of the linkage I34, and a compression spring I44 and collar I46 provide means for normally I24 in the knife carwith .the releasable maintaining the parts in the positions shown in Figure 4.

Specifically, there are two control members I30 tively alined with the slots I 50.

During formation of the bale, the control mechin turn controlled by idle tying-mechanism-controlling That is, the spring I 44 maintains the anism is idle, since it is the normally 1 I28will still be respectively engaged with the slots I24 in the knife carrier IZU. v Each control member I30 is, as

plunger 32 is discontinued, whereby the plunger 5 elements I24-I 26. I

agement at I22-I56, to leave the slots I24 of the knife and carrier the knives H8 and H6 plunger continues to the control members I30 arerespec- II8-I20 is efiected just after completion of theshearing action between (Figure 5), whereas the needles 52 when the tying operation is being efiected.

In another aspect ment with the stop portions I56 on the control members I30.

After the tying operation plunger 32 inner face of the until they reach the slots tion-as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A baler, comprising: means including a plurality of normally with the plunger to cooperate with said fixe knife for shearing of material fed through the feed opening,

mg normally connected disconnectible elements; means associated with the bale case for tying a bale formed therein; means for operating the tying means at intervals; means operative in response to operation of the tying means for effecting disconnection of said disconnectible elements during operation of the tying means and prior to the attainment by the plunger of the end of its compression stroke; means for stopping movement of the second knife so that the plunger may continue alone to the end of its compression stroke; and means operative in response to a predetermined extent of operation of the tying means to efiect reconnection of said disconnectible elements.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: said disconnectible elements reciprocate normally in a defined path with the plunger and second knife; and said dis connection-efiecting means includes a movable member normally out of said path but movable into said path to engage and disconnect one disconnectible element from the other.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, further characterized in that: the second knife is provided with an abutment normally clear of said movable member; and said movable member has an abutment thereon cooperative, when moved into the aforesaid path, to engage said second knife abutment for stopping the knife as the plunger continues on its compression stroke.

4. A baler, comprising: means providing a bale chamber; material compressing means movable in said chamber in a defined cycle including alternate material-receiving phases and materialcompacting phases; means for feeding material to the material compressing means between material-receiving and material-compacting phases; means for tying a bale after compaction by the material compressing means; means for severing material fed to the material compressing means, including a pair of severing elements, one associated with the bale chamber and the other with the material compressing means and arranged for relative movement to sever material fed. therebetween; means connecting one severing element to the material compressing means to be driven thereby normally through a cycle coextensive with that of the material compressing means, said connecting means including normally connected disconnectible and reconnectible elements; means for operating the tying means; and means operative in response to operation of the tying means to effect disconnection of said normally connected elements so that the material compressing means may operate in at least part of its cycle without driving said one severing element.

5. A baler, comprising: means providing a bale chamber; material compressing means movable in said chamber in a defined cycle including alternate material-receiving phases and materialcompacting phases; means including a feed opening for feeding material to the material compressing means between material-receiving and material-compacting phases; means for tying a bale aftercompaction by the material compressing means; means for alternately opening and closing the feed opening, including a closure element separate from and movable at times relative to the material compressing means and arranged for movement relative to the feed opening; means connecting said element to the material compressing means to be driven thereby normally through a cycle coextensive with that of the ing the tying means;

material compressing means, said connecting means including normally connected disconnectible and reconnectible elements; means for operatand means operative in response to operation of the tying means to effect disconnection of said normally connected elements so that the material compressing means may operate in at least part of its cycle without driving said closure element.

6. A baler, comprising: means providing a bale chamber; material compressing means movable in said chamber in a defined cycle including alternate material-receiving phases and materialcompacting phases; means including a feed opening for feeding material to the material compressing means between material-receiving and material-compacting phases; means for alternately opening and closing the cluding a closure element separate from and movable at times relative to the material compressing means and arranged for movement relative to the feed opening; means connecting said element to the material compressing means to be driven thereby normally through a cycle coextensive With that of the material compressing means, said connecting means including normally connected disconnectible and reconnectible elements; actuating means operatively associated with at least one of said disconnectible elements for selectively causing connection and disconnection of said disconnectible elements and normally idle during a predetermined number of cycles of the material compressing means; and means for operating said actuating means in response to conditions incident to the attainment by the material compressing means of a predetermined number of cycles whereby said actuating means effects disconnection of said normally connected elements so that the material compressing means may operate in at least part of its cycle without driving said closure element.

7. A baler, comprising: means providing a bale chamber; material compressing means movable in said chamber in a defined cycle including alternate material-receiving phases and materialcompacting phases; means including a feed opening for feeding material to the material compressing means between material-receiving and material-compacting phases; means for alternately opening and closing the feed opening, including a closure element separate from and movable at times relative to the material compressing means and arranged for movement relative to the feed opening; means connecting said element to the material compressing means to be driven thereby normally through a cycle coextensive with that of the material compressing means, said connecting means including normally connected disconnectible and reconnectible elements; actuating means operatively associated with at least one of said disconnectible elements for selectively causing connection and disconnection of said disconnectible elements and normally idle during formation of a bale by the material compressing means; and means for operating said actuating means in response to conditions incident to the attainment by the bale of a predetermined size characteristic whereby said actuating means effects disconnection of said normally connected elements so that the material compressing means may operate in at least part of its cycle without driving said closure element.

8. A baler, comprising: means providing a bale chamber, including a bale-tying zone; material compressing means movable into said tying zone feed opening, in-

2,887,688 13 14 from a point remote from said zone and returnvate the severin means; and means operative in able to said point; means for feeding material response to conditions incident 'toia predeterinto thevbale chamber intermediate said tying mined extent of operationof the tying means to zone andsald point; tying mechanism, including cause said drivemeanstc reactivate the severing imeans positionable at times insaid tying zone; means. i s nmeanson the material compressing means having 11. A baler, comprising: material compressing slotstt a m date thety ne m a s w n th means for-receiving and accumulating a plurality 581d yl y m s d m t a C mp essin of successive charges of material into a bale; mea are in Sa Z auxilia ym s co0pera means for feeding successive charges of material tive with the material-feeding means for stopping to the material compressing mea,ns; means for feed ng'of a d mat lte t bale ch m r; operating the material" compressing means means foractuatmg said auxiliary means for through successive e ds of predetermined tions incident o he presence of the tying me n 1 terial; means for severing the charges; of material in t e ty n e confining Said auXl'liary fed to the material com ressing means; drive means Out de Of d tying means for the severing means selectively efiective A baler, comprising: m a lncludlng a to activate, deactivate and reactivate the severing rality of walls arranged to provide an elongated ns and operativ during each of the aforebale chamber of generally rectangular section; a 29 said periods to activate said severing means; and bale-forming plunger reciprocable lengthwise of means cooperative between the at ing an openin through which material may be 01018111; to the end of ea her and arranged so that the edge more remote 30 and knife for reciprocation in alternate cutting normally connected to cause the second knife to therein; means for operating the tying means at letltrn; drive means the severing means sement by the plunger of the end of its comprest' t means; means Operative moment to extent of operation of the tying means to effect conditiqns incident to movement of the tying reconnection of sa1d disconnectible elements. means mto i of the tying .Zone for 8110' A baler, comprising: bale formmg means cessively deact1vat1ng and reactivatmg the severincludin a chamber and a bale-forming memmg means ber movable 1n the chamber to receive and com- A baler compnsmg: material compressmg pact material in said chamber; means for feed-, means having a feed Zone and tyipg Zone spaced vate, deactivate and reactivate said severing fronathe i ff j ifi g gg gg 'i 5 g: material fed to the chamber; drive means for 9 om 6 ne 0 means and normally operative to activate the Zone; bale'tying means normally idle during a severing means during movement of the balm predetermined material compressing period and forming member, bale-tying means normally idle Operatlve after Said Penod to move into said durmg cflmpactlng of t mammal by the l mg zone to tie a bale and then to move out of operation of the bale-forming member through to the chamber and movable in the tying Z0118 a predetermined number of cycles to tie a formed durin the bale-forming period while the tying the severing means in the tying zone; and means connected to said selective means and operative in response to conditions incident to movement of the tying means into and then out of said tying zone for successively preventing and then permitting operation of said severing means in said tying zone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 515,786 Nixon 1 Mar. 6, 1894 649,413 'Luzzatto May 8, 1900 1,053,397 Jackson Feb. 18, 1913 Number Number Name Date Case Oct. 17, 1916 Dudley Nov. 28, 1916 Hilton June 26, 1917 Pearson et a1. Apr. 6, 1926 Tyler May 21, 1929 Barker Aug. 18, 1942 Russell Nov. 14, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Mar. 29, 1943 

